Containerless laser-induced flourescence study of vaporization and optical properties for sapphire and alumina

Abstract

Evaporation of aluminum oxide was studied from 1,800 to 2,327 K by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of Al atom vapor over sapphire and alumina spheres that were levitated in an argon gas jet and heated with a continuous wave CO{sub 2} laser. Optical properties were determined from apparent specimen temperatures measured with an optical pyrometer and true temperatures deduced from the LIF intensity versus temperature measurements using the known temperature dependence of the Al atom vapor concentration in equilibrium with Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. The effects of impurities and dissolved oxygen on the high-temperature optical properties of aluminum oxide were discussed.